Monday, May 16. 2011

Many readers here, and even many of our members may not realize what TRACK SPACE is. When a new acquisition is approved by the Board at IRM, part of that agreement is for supporters of the car to help pay for the track it will sit upon. That is part of the cost to acquire any new piece of equipment.

The sponsor agrees to help raise those funds, often at least in part from his own pocket. New acquisitions often become available on short notice and there is the excitement of getting a NEW car or locomotive. But as time goes on, the blush fades - after all the car is here isn't it?

The reality is that the assessment for track space does not cover the entire cost of the infrastructure, and the museum subsidizes this expense. As I said the car is here, and it is sitting on the track, so what is the problem? The problem is that we account for every foot of occupied track and since it has to be built, it is. But that money might be 'borrowed' from other museum funds on hand and it places us in a SHORT position of available cash to continue operations and to invest in the site.

Here are three such cars in the Freight Department that are UNDER FUNDED, and for which we need donations. All are unique pieces of railway history which have disappeared from normal everyday service, and which are key parts of our collection goal to represent American Railroad History.

MILW 97155

This is Milwaukee Road 97155, an airslide covered hopper, the only covered hopper in our collection. In addition to representing a Midwest Fallen Flag road, it represents a design revolution, a milestone in covered hopper technology as developed by General American. Fund R97155

GATX 33519

Here is GATX 33519, a six dome tank car. Yes a SIX dome car! In this case it largely transported several different varieties of wine in one carload quantity. Many models of such cars exist, but how many of the real thing? Our collection represents a primary resource of tank car technology spanning several decades of the 20th century, and this demonstrates many design features unique to the tank car saga. Fund R33519

UP 37022

Here is an open hopper, of which similar cars once numbered in the tens of thousands and was an iconic symbol of American freight railroading. The reporting marks in the photo are temporary ones, used to accomplish the move to Union. Are there any UP fans out there willing to help? Fund R37022

The cost is nominal, now at a very reasonable $75 per foot. Can you help us by donating the cost of one foot? More would be welcome, and none are too small to be refused. All donations are considered 'restricted' to the purpose and are deductible to the extent allowed by IRS regulations. Without clearing these expenses, future acquisitions will be handcuffed or limited, and we will not be able to proceed with preservation and restoration of this equipment which is already on hand.

That is the reality of life in a Museum. There are several other pieces of rare and endangered equipment that have been moved to IRM and are in need of your help. How about it?

To further validate the Track space issue, it is also becoming harder and harder to get railroads to donate used rail. With scrap steel in the $300 -$500 range and sometimes higher, all that scrap looks very good to the railroads on the bottom line. The fact that CN donated rail to us (including bars and plates... more on this in a minute) is remarkable. Yes the rail is heavily worn, and will need almost every end cropped, but it is still good yard rail. As I said CN donated Rail, Plates AND Bars.. so we have what we need to build more track.... steel wise.
Ties are another significant expense. At $25 to $30 each (last i checked a few years ago) and needing about 24 per 39' stick, we still have significant costs to build a track panel.
Now assuming we have no rush to build, we can build the track using volunteer labor. Last year 13-4 was built by IRM and MTM track volunteers. Hope is to get another track started this year. I took a week of vacation to come out and do nothing but crop rails for this project. ( yes it was fun!) If we determine we are in a hurry, well then plan on the expense of a contractor to come in and build it for us.
So the addage applies to track as well as other items at IRM... Free is never free. There are still epxenses. And for those that think it is just a couple streaks of rust spiked down to some wood... Cmon out, we'll show you what it takes to keep IRM track as good as it is.
Frank D

Bob is correct.
Every department faces the same issue.
The way IRM has survived nearly 60 years is partly because we insist all projects pay their own way. This includes the cost of the rail and ties and ballast consumed by the collection.
Jamie has recently added an indoor storage donor site for all departments, and that is great, but that is in ADDITION to the track charges. Restoration is fun and attractive to our guests, but the basic cost of the equipment must be accounted for if we hope to survive another 60 years at IRM.

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